Kent County Council, led by the Reform UK party, has announced the removal of all books featuring transgender themes from the children’s sections of its libraries—a move that has sparked significant backlash and concern.
The council’s leader, Linden Kemkaran, revealed the decision via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 2 July. “Another victory for #commonsenseinKent,” she wrote. “My brilliant cabinet member Cllr Paul Webb has just got this trans material REMOVED from the children’s sections of all Kent’s libraries. Telling children they’re in the ‘wrong body’ is wrong and simply unacceptable.”
The announcement did not include details on which specific titles or materials were removed, nor how many books are affected. Kent County Council oversees 99 community libraries and operates five mobile library vans.
Antony Hook, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader in the council, criticised the announcement as both “vague” and “bizarre”, particularly as it was made on social media rather than through formal council channels. Hook has formally written to the head of Kent Library Services seeking clarification on what materials are being removed.
Councillor Paul Webb, who holds the communities portfolio and oversees libraries, said the decision followed a complaint from a concerned member of the public. He added: “My fellow Reform members and I believe that our young people should be protected from exposure to potentially harmful ideologies and beliefs such as those held by the trans lobbyists.”
The decision reflects a broader trend within Reform UK, a right-wing populist party founded as the Brexit Party in 2018 and later rebranded. The party has been widely criticised for its stance on LGBTQ+ issues and its anti-immigration and eurosceptic positions.
Earlier this week, Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage made headlines by stating that he did not support the legalisation of same-sex marriage, describing the legislation as “wrong”.
The removal of trans-themed books from library shelves marks a significant development in the ongoing culture wars over LGBTQ+ visibility, particularly in public institutions like libraries and schools. Critics warn that such actions contribute to the marginalisation and erasure of trans identities, especially among youth.
